142 DEATH OF HIS WIFE. 



On the 14th October, 185 1, he was in London taking 

 part in the closing ceremony at the Exhibition, and on 

 the 17th December, paid his first visit to Sir William 

 Thomson, returning on the 24th. In May, 1852, Sir 

 William Thomson was visiting Joule at Acton Square ; and 

 on the 17th inst, with Joule and his brother Benjamin, went 

 by rail to Huddersfield, and thence to Holmfirth, to see the 

 devastation caused by the bursting of the reservoir. Of 

 this excursion Mr. J. St. B. Joule writes, " Although a 

 great amount of straightening up had been accomplished, 

 we saw enough during our walk to the Bilberry Reservoir 

 to form a good idea of the immense destruction the bursting 

 had caused. Steam engines demolished, factories cut in 

 two — the half gone — and, having carefully inspected the part 

 of the embankment which appeared to have first given way, 

 we (all three being good walkers) resolved to strike over the ' 

 hills, first taking the Hocking Holmes Moor, until we could 

 reach the M. S. & L. Railway for Manchester, and after a 

 long walk we came down near the line some three miles 

 below Woodhead." 



On June 13, 1852, Joule's daughter, Alice Amelia, was 

 born ; she was christened July 7th, Sir William Thomson 

 being godfather. 



On November 29th, Joule attended the Anniversary 

 Meeting of the Royal Society, to receive the Royal Medal 

 which was awarded to him ; Huxley receiving one at the 

 same time, and Darwin another the next year. 



On June 8th, 1854, Joule's second son was born, but only 

 lived till the 28th. 



In the death of his wife, which occurred September 6th, 

 1854, leaving him with one son and one daughter, Joule 

 suffered a loss, which not only disturbed his immediate 



